​How did conflict between classes change Rome’s government?

​Roman society: was divided into two main social classes: Plebeians and Patricians.

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Patricians were wealthy landowners who held government offices.

Most people were plebeians—shopkeepers, artisans, and small farmers. Patricians and plebeians could not marry each other.

• ​Roman government: the consul (administrative and military), the praetors (judicial), and the Senate and the Assembly of Centuries (legislative).

• Conflict between the social classes threatened collapse of the empire and resulted in the Council of Plebs.

• Cincinnatus, a farmer, fulfilled his civic duty when he was called to rule as dictator during an emergency.

• In 451 b.c., Rome created its first written code of laws, the Twelve Tables. The Roman rule of law is the basis of different legal system today in the world.

• To ​veto to reject or say no to

The Republican Government

​The Roman government had three parts.

​1- The administrative and military : The top leaders were two consuls who served for one year. One consul headed the army. The other headed the rest of the government.

​2-The legislative branch: Rome had two legislative bodies, or groups that made laws. The Senate was made up of 300 patrician men. They were senators for life. The second group that made laws was the Assembly of Centuries. In 494 b.c., the plebeians went on strike so to prevent the collapse of the republic, plebeians were allowed to set up the Council of Plebs. It elected tribunes.

​3- The Judicial branch: (or judges). Roman praetors and interpreted laws could lead armies and help run the government.

​Rome's Law

​In 451 b.c. Rome adopted its first written laws, known as the Twelve Tables. They were carved on bronze tablets and placed in the marketplace where everyone could see them. The Twelve Tables were based on the idea that all citizens should be treated equally under the law.

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Rome’s legal system was based on the idea that everyone should be treated equally. This is called “the rule of law.”

​Punic Wars

• ​From 264 b.c. to 146 b.c., three Punic Wars were fought between Rome and Carthage to gain control of the Mediterranean region.

• During the second Punic War, Carthage’s general Hannibal and his army took elephants over the Alps and into Italy.

• Rome won all three of the Punic Wars, expanding its territory and power following each war.

• After the Punic Wars, Rome conquered Greece and acquired a province in Asia.